cisplatin + 5-fluorouracil + lipiodol

This investigational treatment regimen is a locoregional therapy being evaluated for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Developed and studied at National Taiwan University Hospital, the regimen utilizes Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy (HAIC) to deliver a combination of two cytotoxic small molecules, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), directly into the hepatic artery. Cisplatin acts as a DNA alkylating agent that induces DNA cross-linking and subsequent apoptosis, while 5-fluorouracil is an antimetabolite that inhibits thymidylate synthase, disrupting DNA synthesis. The chemotherapy infusion is followed by the administration of lipiodol, an ethiodized oil that provides transient and plastic embolization of the tumor vasculature. This combination aims to maximize the local concentration of chemotherapeutic agents within the tumor and prolong their residence time through embolization, while minimizing systemic toxicity and preserving overall liver function.

Other names

HAIC with Cisplatin/5-FU + LipiodolHepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy with Cisplatin and Fluorouracil in Combination with Lipiodol Embolization